Cigarette-machine automatic feed



Dec. 1

W. B. BRONANDER CIGARETTE MACHINE AUTOMATIC FEED Filed Feb. 12. 1925 lBYPatented Dec.;- 1., 192,5." i

UNITED- STATES PATENT- ounce..

. WILHELM B. BRONANDER, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO A'MERIGANMAGHINE a'roUNnnY COMPANY,

A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

f lcrenaar:rn-MACHINE AUTOMATIC FEED.

Application "led February To all whom it may concern.: Be it known thatI, WILHELM B. BRONN- DER, a citizen of the United States, residing atMontclair, county of Essex', and State of New Jersey, have invented anew and use- Vful Improvement in a Cigarette-Machine Automatic Feed, ofwhich the following is a specification. v

This invention relates to an improvement in automatic feed mechanismsfor cigarette machines. Two types of such mechanisms are known. In thefirst, a mass of shredded tobacco is confined in a housing or hopper,and shreds are disentangled fro-m the mass and fed in a shower to acigarette machine. At more or less irregular intervals tobacco is addedto the mass by an attendant who serves a large number of machines. Thedisentangling and feeding of the shreds is effected automatically, butthe ever-varying weight of the mass aects the action of thedisentangling vand feeding mechanism and results in cigarettes whichvary in density. To overcome this result, the second type ofautomaticfeed was produced.4 In the latter, the shreds are alsodisentangled from a mass in a housing and fed in a shower to a ciga- Arette' machine, but the' quantity of Itobacco in the mass, andconsequently its weight, is maintained substantially constant by a handfeed mechanism which adds tobacco .to the mass as shreds are takentherefrom.- Mechanisms of this type will produce uniform `cigarettes,but at a higher cost than 'the earlier type, because they require anattendant for each'mechanism. VThe main' object of the present-invention is the production of an automatic feed mechanism 1n whichthat part of the mass of tobacco which is within the range of action ofthe disentangling and feeding mechanism is automatically maintainedsubstantially constant in quantity and weight, so that uniformcigarettes will be produced at the low cost of the variable cigarettesproduced by the use of the earliest type of automatic feed mechanism.With this and other 'objects not specifically mentioned in view, theinvention consists in certain constructions and combinations which willbe hereinafter fully described, and then specifically set forth in theclaims hereunto ap ended.

n 'the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specificationand in which like characters of reference indicate the same 12, 1925.Serial No. 8,727.

or like parts, Fig. 1 is a plan view, partly in section, of a deviceconstructed in accordance with the invention; and Fig. 2 is a centralside elevation of the structure shown yin Fig. l.

In carrying the invention into effect, there is provided a housing lforconfining a mass of shredded cigarette tobacco, automatic mechanism fordisentangling tobacco shreds from the mass' and feeding them in a con-65 tinuous showerv to a cigarette machine, and automatic means formaintaining within the range of action of said mechanism a substantiallyconstant part of said mass, in order to insure a uniform feed of thetobacco, and uniform cigarettes, at the lowest possible cost.l In thebest constructions contemplated,

vall parts of said mechanism and said means,

which engage the tobacco, move continuously, to avoid the effects ofinertia inV the to- 7 bacco mass, which, otherwise, would affecttheuniform feed. This mechanism, and this means, maybe widely varied inconstruction within the scope o f the claims, for the particula'rstructure selected to illustrate the invention is but one of manypossible concrete embodiments of the same. 'Ilhe invention, therefore,is not to be restricted to the precise details of the structure shownand described.

Referring to the drawings, 3 indicates a housing or hopper for confininga mass of shredded cigarette tobacco to be fed to a cigarette machineand there made up into cigarettes. This housing is supported by abracket 4 resting on the bed 5 of a cigarette machine in connection withwhich the present invention is used. The bed 5"\supports a feed trough 6into which the tobacco is showered. The particular construction of thecigarette machine lies wholly outside the present invention, is wellunderstood in the industry, and therefore needs no description herein.

Automatic mechanism for disentangling tobacco from a mass in the housing3, and for feeding it to the cigarette machine, is provided. In theselected embodiment of the invention, this mechanism includesa cardingbelt 7 forming the bottom of the housing 3. It runs over pulleys 8 and9, -respectivel secured to'shafts `10 and 11, both of whic are suitablyjournaled in bearings in the side walls of the housing 3. The shaft 10is driven by means of a pulley 12 fast there- 110 on, and this pulley isdriven by means of a belt 13 which derives its motion from one of theshafts of the cigarette machine in connection with which the presentinvention is used. The shaft also carries a sprocket 14, and the shaft11 carries a sprocket 15, and over these sprockets runs a chain 16 whichserves to drive the pulley 9.

The upper or operating run of the carding belt 7 runs upwardly andforwardly, as clearly indicated in Fig. 2 Coacting with this cardingbelt is apacking-roll 17 fast on a shaft 18 journaled in bearings in theside walls of the housing 3. This packing-roll nas a smooth surface, andis rotated by means of a chain 19 overrunning a sprocket 20 on the shaft10 and deriving its motion therefrom. This chain also overruns asprocket 21 on the shaft 18, and a sprocket 22 on a shaft 23 the purposeof which will be presently explained. An idle sprocket 24 keeps thechain 19 in engagement with the sprocket 21. K

The packing-roll rotates in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2, andthe lowermost part of its perimeter just clears the forwardly inclinedteeth of the carding belt 7. As the latter moves an entangled mass oftobacco shreds into the bight formed between its own surface and theperimeter of the packing-roll, some of the tobacco is pressed down onthe teeth of the belt, and the excess is brushed back to be carried upover the roll with a part of the mass into the range of action ofcoacting parts of the disentangling and feeding mechanism.

For the purpose of keeping the mass of tobacco in the housing in motion,and for completing the proper packing of a sheet of tobacco shreds onthe carding belt 7, there is provided a second carding belt 25 whichoverruns a pulley 26 carried by the shaft 23 before referred to, and apulley 27 mounted on a shaft 28 jouinaled in bearings in the side wallsof the housing 3. As before stated, the shaft 23 is driven by the chain19. The shaft 28 is driven by a chain 29 engaging the sprockets on theshafts 23 and 28. The teeth of the carding belt 25 are inclinedbackwardly with respect to its direction of movement, and the operatingrun of the belt is vertically upward, or at an obtuse angle to thedirection of travel of the operating run of the belt 7. As tobacco ismoved over the packing-roll 17 by the combined action of the belt 7 andthe packingroll 17, it comes into contact with the upwardly movingoperating run of the belt 25. The teeth of this belt just clear theteeth of the belt 7, and as the tee-th of the beltl 25 move rearwardlyat the lowermost part of the pulley 26, they sweep back any excess oftobacco that may have been packed too tightly on the teeth of the belt 7by the packing-roll17. Then, as they move upwardly on the operating runof the belt, they engage that part of the mass of tobacco in the housingwhich is within the range of action of the disentangling and feedingmechanism just described and move it-.upwardly by a semi-positivebrushing action and pile it up along the lower part of the operating runof the belt 25.

For the purpose of insuring uniform action of the disentanglinfr andfeeding mechanism as tobacco is withdrawn from the mass in the housing,there is provided automatic means for maintaining within the range ofaction of said mechanism a substantially constant part of said mass. Inthe selected structure, this means and this mechanism have an element incommon, i. e., the second carding belt 25. The maintaining means alsoincludes a tumbling device for removing from the range of action of thedisentangling and feeding mechanism all tobacco in excess of asubstantially constant part of said mass, and for returning it to'themass beyond said range of action. This tumbling device includes a pairof circular heads 30 carried by a shaft 31, and connected by a series ofslats 32. The shaft 31 carries a sprocket 33 which is driven by a chain34 deriving its motion from a similar sprocket on the shaft 18 beforereferred to. The tumbling device limits the height to which the tobaccomass can Apile up along the belt 25, by constantly throwing back thetobacco brought up to it by said belt. tion, that part of the mass whichis within the range of action of the disentangling and feeding mechanismis maintained substaiitially constant, although the mass as a wholedwindles. It will be understood of course that tobacco must be added tothe mass from time to time.

As the sheet of tobacco is fed forward by the carding belt 7, it isbrought withinv the range of action of a picker roll 35 of the usualtype which is mounted on a shaft 36 journaled in bearings in the sidewalls of the housing 3. AThis shaft carries a pulley 37 which is drivenby means of a belt deriving its motion from one of the shafts of thecigarette machine.

For the purpose of regulatin the quantity of tobacco disentangled an fedto the cigarette machine, without disturbing the speed of the parts ofthe disentangling and feeding mechanism, there is provided a movablewall 39 in the housing, by means of which its width may be varied, andoperating means therefor. In the selected structure, this movable Wallcari'ies two screws 40 which project through one of the fixed walls ofthe housing?) and carry nuts 41 over which rims a chain 42 engaged by acrank-actuated sprocket 43. By operating this sprocket, the movable wallmay be moved toward or away from the fixed wall llO through which thescrews project, and thus vary the weight of the tobacco mass to vary thequantity fed to the cigarette machine.

In view of the foregoing, a detailed description of the operation of themachine is deemed unnecessary and .is omitted in the interest ofbrevity.

lVhat is claimed is:

l. The combination with a housing for confining a mass of cigarettetobacco, of automatic mechanism for disentangling tobacco from said massand feeding it to a cigarette machine, and automatic means formaintaining within the range of action of said mechanism a substantiallyconstant part of said mass.

2. The combination with a housing' for confining a mass of cigarettetobacco, of au# tomatic mechanism for disentangling tobacco from saidmass and feeding it to a cigarette machine, and automatic means formaintaining within the range of action of said mechanism 'asubstantially constant part of said mass, said housing including amovable wall and operating means for varying the quantity of tobacco fedtherefrom by said mechanism.

3. The combination with a housing for confining a mass of cigarettetobacco, of automatic mechanism for disentangling tobacco from said massand feeding it to a cigare-tte machine, and automatic means formaintaining within the range of action of said mechanism a substantiallyconstant part of said mass, said housing including a movable wall andcrank-actuated means therefor, and fixed walls through one of which saidcrank-actuated means operates.

4. The combination with a housing for confining a massof cigarettetobacco, of automatic mechanism for disentangling t0- bacco from saidmass and feeding it to a cigarette machine, and automatic means formaintaining within the range of action of said mechanism a substantiallyconstant part of said mass, said housing including a movable 4wall and apair of crank-actuated screws connected therewith, and fixed wallsthrough one of which said screws operate.

5. The combination with a housing for confining a mass of cigarettetobacco, of automatic mechanism for disentangling tobacco from said massand feeding it to a cigarette machine, and automatic means for'maintaining within the range of action of said mechanism a substantiallyconstant part of said mass, all parts of said mechanism being operativecontinuously. v

6. The combination with a housing for confining a mass of cigarettetobacco, of automaticI mechanism for disentangling tobacco from saidmass Aand feeding it to a cigarette machine, and automatic meansformaintaining within the range of actionl of said mechanism asubstantially constant part of said mass, all parts ofsaid mechanismwhich engage the tobacco being operative Within said housing. l

. 7. The combinatlon with a housing for confining a mass of cigarettetobacco, of automatic mechanism for disentangling tobacco from vsaidmass and feeding it to a cigarette machine, and automatic means formaintaining within the range of action of said mechanism a substantiallyconstant part of said mass, all parts of said means being operativecontinuously. t

8. The combination with a housing for confining amass of cigarettetobacco, of automatic mechanism for disentangling tobacco from said massand feeding it to a cigarette machine, and automatic means formaintaining within the range of action of said mechanism a substantiallyconstant part of said mass, all parts of said means which engage thetobacco being operative within said housing.

9. rlhe combination with a housing for confining a mass of cigarettetobacco, of automatic mechanism for disentangling tobacco from said massand feeding it to a cigarette machine, and automatic means formaintaining within the range of action of said mechanism a substantiallyconstant part of said mass, said' mechanism including two carding beltsthe operating runs of which travel in obtusely-angular directions.

10. The combination with a housing for confining a mass of cigarettetobacco, of automatic mechanism for disentangling tobacco from said massand feeding it'to a cigarette machine, and automatic means formaintaining. withinl the range of action of said mechanism asubstantially constant part of said mass, said mechanism including twocarding belts the operating run of one of which travels upwardly andforwardly and the operating run of the other of which travels verticallyupward. K

11. The combination with a housing for confining a mass of cigarettetobacco, of au-` tomatic mechanism for disentangling to- .i

bacco from said mass and feeding it to a cigarette machine, andautomatic means for maintaining within the range of action of saidmechanism a substantially constant part of said mass, said mechanismincluding a forwarding carding belt, and ac'oacting,l smooth-surfacedpacking-roll.

12. The combination with a housing for confining a mass of cigarettetobacco, of automatic mechanism for disentangling tobacco from said massand feeding it to a cigarette machine, and automatic means formaintaining within the range of action of saidmechanism a substantiallyconstant part of said mass, said mechanism including a forwardingcarding belt, and a coacting member for packing tobacco on said belt.

13. The combination with av housing for confining a mass of cigarettetobacco, of automatic mechanism for disentan'gling tobaccofrom said massand feeding it to a cigarette machine, and automatic means formaintaining Within the range of action of said mechanism a substantiallyconstant part of said mass, said mechanism and said means having atraveling member common to both.

14. The combination with a housing for confining a mass of cigarettetobacco, of automatic mechanism for disentangling tobacco from said massand feeding it to a cigarette machine, and automatic means formaintaining Within .the range of action of said mechanism asubstantially constant part of said mass, said means including a beltforming a part of said mechanism.

15. The combination with a housing for confining a mass of cigarettetobacco, of automatic mechanism for disentangling tobacco from said massand feeding it to a cigarette machine1 and automatic means formaintaining Within the range of action of said mechanism a substantiallyconstant part of said mass, said means including a tumbling device forremoving from the range of action of said mechanism all tobacco inexcess of said substantially constant part of said mass.

16. The combination with a housing for 3 confining a mass of cigarettetobacco, of automatic mechanism for disentangling tobacco from said massand feeding it to a cigarette machine, and automatic means formaintainingT Within the range of action of 3 said mechanism asubstantially constant part of said mass, said means including atumbling device comprising a pair of circular heads and a series ofslats arranged about and connecting the perimeters of said heads. 4

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

WILHELM B. BRONANDER.

